Cherries

Monday, August 25, 2008

All About The Weekend!

Welcome to a new week!

I'm pooped! I had the most amazing weekend and now I'm both inspired and exhausted. This weekend was the Mind to Market seminar in Oakland with Amilya Antonetti. In a nutshell, this was an intensive weekend of segmented education on everything from taking action on a good idea; from how the retail stores really accept new products (how much that costs to even be considered), to finding money to get started, legal stuff regarding patents, trademarks, copyrights, and accounting. Should you be a sole proprietor? A C-corp? An S-corp? A LLC? And then when you figure that out, is your product something you need to brand? Talk about an esoteric topic! Marketing, Public Relations, Creating the Perfect Pitch or better yet, knowing not to pitch and how to build a great working relationship instead. There was even a class on being open to changing the way you think about everything!

I felt like I went into the weekend with lots to learn, but also well on my way. Yeah, right! I not only have so much more to think about, re-think, undo, do differently, and some stuff I'm not going to do at all. It's hard to believe that I could be happy having my glove world picked up, taken apart, shaken vigorously, and all the pieces handed back to me. All the way home in the car, I felt like quitting. As I got home and thought about telling Dave, "Oh well, it was a fun little adventure, now I'm getting a regular job." all I could do was go to bed. Today, I'm still tired, but I'm ready to get back to work. To use the new tools and information to create this dream. So now it's back to the drawing board with all new, better quality paper, paint, tools, and a big dose of, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I know I can."

Today's motivator is my crowning jewel from the weekend. Are you ready? I learned that I talk too much. Yes! It's true.

I care too much. I feel what you think is so important, and so I talk to please you. Stop laughing, I'm serious. I talk too much so you know I love you. It's my way of taking care of the ones I love, be you my family, friends, acquaintances, and customers, I talk so you know I understand. From this day forward, know I love you, I care what you think, and how you feel, but I'm gonna practice the power of quiet.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Black and White Ball Monday

So, here I am. It's evening, but it's still Monday!

Last week was a busy one. As most of you know, Dave and I have been working all year on the Steering Team for Auburn's Black and White Ball. The ball was Saturday night, and I feel we can call it a success. If you've ever planned a wedding for more than 100, than just imagine multiplying that by 70! Yes, a street party for more than 7000 people, and most of the work is done by volunteers! Dave did so much more physical work than I did that I can't even imagine how tired he must be. The (what seemed like) non-stop work started on Thursday evening, went all day Friday, started again on Saturday morning until 4:30, and then it was showtime.

Steve, Roberta, Mike, Neave, Greg, Heather, Tammy, Greg, Cris, Kelly, Dave and I, all spent some, if not all of the night together. We had dinner, danced, laughed, and all in all had a great time. Little Texas gave us the opportunity to country dance, and Tainted Love reminded us that the music of the 80's is far from dead! We didn't spend much time at the David Martin stage because the night was just too full. The only downside is that our camera was stolen. Maybe lost, but since it has yet to turn up in the lost and found, or any of the other places you or I would take a camera we clearly knew was not ours, I can't help but say stolen. I hope in the coming weeks I can tell you it turned up, but much past tomorrow, I'm losing hope.

Sunday, though exhausted, we all made a little hike to the swimming hole I referenced last week. It was a wonderful way to relax after so much work. After a few hours at the river, we made our way back to the house where we showered, said good-bye to our guests, and immediately fell asleep!

Today it was get Mason off to school, Dave off to work, and my list of things to do was barely dented. I did get groceries though, that was one of those must do today tasks.

Saturday and Sunday Pictures

Mike and Neave before the ball
Heather and Greg. You can see why they're so happy together!

Dave and Kathy after the ball, before bed!

Mike, Mason, and Greg getting ready to jump off the big rock.

Mike and Mason went first.

Mason got back up to go with Greg, who was a little sceerdt!

That splash is Mason going first showing Greg it's okay.

Stay Tuned!

I have a list two miles long to tackle today. That said, I'll be back late today or early tomorrow to bring you up to speed with the Partak clan!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Work! Work! Work!

Work! Work! Work! That's what this weekend was all about. Dave did all the hard, dirty work, but I certainly filled in the gaps. Some of the stuff I had to do was to wrangle Mason to keep him out from under Dave's feet while he split more than two cords of wood with a rented splitter. Having rented the "machine of magic," as Dave called it, he couldn't put it off and do a little at a time. I did some stacking, but with my shoulder still in recovery, I didn't do nearly as much as I would have liked.

Other than the wood project, we've been working on Auburn's Black & White Ball that's this coming Saturday. There are so many projects to do, and we have had our fair share. Again, Dave more than me. There's still time to get tickets if you want to go (I have two general admission tickets for sale $50 each), check it out at http://www.partyauburn.com/.

So into a new week we go. We all have so much to do, Mason starts kindergarten on Wednesday, and all I can think about is floating in the swimming hole at the river! If we can get there this week, I'll take some pictures and you'll see why it's my new guilty pleasure. Today's quote speaks to taking off to the river in the middle of a workday. Should everything be about how much money is in it? Or what we can put in the bank? I think not, but I can also attest to the stress that is created when the money is not made, and there when you need it! In the meantime, do what you have to do, and make time to do what you want to do! Have a great week!

"I could never convince the financiers that Disneyland was feasible because dreams offer too little collateral." Walt Disney

Weekend Pictures

Off to Home Depot to buy supplies
Dave doing the heavy lifting!
Mason playing with Lincoln Logs, no hard work here!
Why don't we stop and smell the roses more often?

Monday, August 4, 2008

Staycation 2008

Finally! They have created a name for how average folks spend their time off. I have to chuckle because Dave and I seem to be on the go a lot, but we're rarely far from home. We may be in Sonora, San Francisco, Truckee, Reno, maybe Las Vegas or Anaheim, and anyone I know would consider these trips vacations. I think the people who live in higher income brackets tend to really vacation, like in the form of a week or more at a time, getting on an airplane, needing a passport, and plenty of spending money along the way. Ironically, Dave and I both took real vacations this year, but still find so much joy in our little jaunts near home.

On Wednesday, Dave had to leave for Millbrae for a retention seminar. Since Mason is between preschool and kindergarten, we decided to tag along. For Mason, the hotel is the vacation! When I told him we were going with Dave, he immediately got excited, "Ma-ma, ma-ma, are we going to stay in a hotel?"
I nodded.
"Will the hotel have movies on the TV?" he went on.
"Yep." I replied.
"Will there be a bath tub in the bathroom?" He looked at me with big hopeful eyes.
"Ah, yeah..." That one was odd, we have two bath tubs at home.
"Yay!" he danced around the kitchen into the living room. "A bath tub! A bath tub!"
Whatever! I thought.
"Ma-ma, ma-ma, will there be a swimming pool at the hotel?" Mason continued.
"Yes." I answered.
"A bath tub and a swimming pool! Hooray! I love you ma-ma!" Mason crooned as he wrapped himself around my legs and squeezed and kissed with all his might. Yes, he kissed my legs. After all, why wouldn't he? We're treating him to a bath tub and a swimming pool!

We made good use of both watering holes, but the best part for me was taking Mason on his first train. We made arrangements to take BART to Concord where we met Mary and Diana for lunch. After we ate, Diana had to go back to work but Mary, Mason and I hit several thrift stores and found quite a few treasures. The three of us went for a root beer float and then back to Mary's house to meet her little Lilly! Mary has a new little dog, yes, I said little (inside joke! Sorry.), and we couldn't be so close and not stop in for some play time. Since we had no real schedule, Dave was working all day and into the night, we ended up back at the lovely new park in Clayton where Mason and Lilly had a ball! Diana and Keith met us around 5:30 and after lounging in the grass, we walked over to the famous Skipolini's for pizza and salad. What a wonderful day! Diana took Mason and I back to the BART station and an hour later we were back to the awesome hotel (from Mason's point of view), where we walked by the swimming pool and got in the bath tub!

Dave and I managed to make some time together at dinner, over a few drinks, and visiting with several of his buddies and their families. All in all, it was a wonderful little get away, a staycation by all accounts, and the best part is, it was almost all financed by the National Guard! (Disclaimer: Before any one gets feisty about their tax dollars and such, Dave HAD to be there, so all those expenses were paid for no matter what...Mason and I just tagged along and made the most of it.)

So let me leave you with this to get your week off to a good start. What do you have in your life that you take for granted? I clearly have two bath tubs that seem like everyday fare. When in fact, from a child's point of view, a bath tub away from home ranks right up there with a swimming pool! I have to say, I agree with Mason, when I'm away from home, I like to have a bath tub, too. Look around you today and see what you can see from a child's perspective. You might be surprised at the bounty of treasure that surrounds you this very instant!


Scroll down for more pics!

Staycation Photos

Mason enjoying the awesome pool!

First train ride, BART from Millbrae to Concord.

Mary, Mason, and Diana at lunch.

Lilly, this is Kathy. Kathy, meet Lilly.

Mary, Lilly, and Keith

After dinner...ugh! So good. So full!